Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Hong Kong
Hong Kong: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 236 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Hong Kong, 1951–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Hong Kong stood at 236.
That represents a change of down 9.2% on the previous year and up 116.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Hong Kong peaked at 1.25 million in 1965 and was at its lowest, 50, in 1972.
Hong Kong ranks 137th of 183 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Hong Kong, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 30,000 | — |
| 1954 | 22,000 | -26.7% |
| 1964 | 1.12 million | +4990.9% |
| 1965 | 1.25 million | +11.7% |
| 1966 | 1.25 million | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 1,000 | -99.9% |
| 1971 | 1,000 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 50 | -95.0% |
| 1978 | 63,410 | +126720.0% |
| 1979 | 55,700 | -12.2% |
| 1980 | 24,070 | -56.8% |
| 1981 | 13,540 | -43.7% |
| 1982 | 12,620 | -6.8% |
| 1983 | 12,770 | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 11,960 | -6.3% |
| 1985 | 9,400 | -21.4% |
| 1986 | 8,000 | -14.9% |
| 1987 | 9,530 | +19.1% |
| 1988 | 15,359 | +61.2% |
| 1989 | 12,022 | -21.7% |
| 1990 | 8,161 | -32.1% |
| 1991 | 4,414 | -45.9% |
| 1992 | 2,605 | -41.0% |
| 1993 | 1,846 | -29.1% |
| 1994 | 1,698 | -8.0% |
| 1995 | 1,479 | -12.9% |
| 1996 | 1,350 | -8.7% |
| 1997 | 1,224 | -9.3% |
| 1998 | 1,037 | -15.3% |
| 1999 | 973 | -6.2% |
| 2000 | 980 | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 1,392 | +42.0% |
| 2002 | 1,490 | +7.0% |
| 2003 | 1,899 | +27.4% |
| 2004 | 1,865 | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 1,925 | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 1,932 | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 89 | -95.4% |
| 2008 | 90 | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 78 | -13.3% |
| 2010 | 149 | +91.0% |
| 2011 | 146 | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 105 | -28.1% |
| 2013 | 113 | +7.6% |
| 2014 | 160 | +41.6% |
| 2015 | 109 | -31.9% |
| 2016 | 91 | -16.5% |
| 2017 | 85 | -6.6% |
| 2018 | 128 | +50.6% |
| 2019 | 128 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 245 | +91.4% |
| 2021 | 271 | +10.6% |
| 2022 | 285 | +5.2% |
| 2023 | 301 | +5.6% |
| 2024 | 260 | -13.6% |
| 2025 | 236 | -9.2% |
Hong Kong compared with similar countries
- Hong Kong's 236 is below the median for high income countries, which is 11,811, 2% of the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Hong Kong's 236 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 51.5, 4.6× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Hong Kong changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | +126720.0% | 50 | 63,410 |
| 1964 | +4990.9% | 22,000 | 1.12 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 26,000 | 22,000 | 30,000 | 2 |
| 1960s | 1.21 million | 1.12 million | 1.25 million | 3 |
| 1970s | 24,232 | 50 | 63,410 | 5 |
| 1980s | 12,927 | 8,000 | 24,070 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2,479 | 973 | 8,161 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,174 | 78 | 1,932 | 10 |
| 2010s | 121.4 | 85 | 160 | 10 |
| 2020s | 266.33 | 236 | 301 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong
More population data for Hong Kong
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -2.46 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2044)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -2.46 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.3992 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -3.24 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -2.49 (2100)
- Population density 1,981 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 30,373 (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development -2.49 (2100)
- Urbanization vs gdp, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Hong Kong?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Hong Kong was 236 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Hong Kong?
- The highest recorded value was 1.25 million in 1965.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Hong Kong?
- The lowest recorded value was 50 in 1972.
- How does Hong Kong rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Hong Kong ranks 137th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Hong Kong?
- Over the last ten years it is up 116.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Hong Kong data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Refugee population by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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